SystemPrivileged EXEC

show inventory

Displays the hardware inventory of the device, including serial numbers and part numbers for all installed modules, used for asset management and verifying hardware components.

Syntax·Privileged EXEC

show inventory

When to Use This Command

Verify the serial number of a specific module for RMA replacement.
Check the part numbers of installed line cards during network audit.
Confirm that all expected hardware components are present after a device reboot.
Document hardware inventory for compliance or asset tracking purposes.

Command Examples

Basic show inventory output

show inventory

NAME: "Chassis", DESCR: "Cisco 4321 Integrated Services Router"
PID: ISR4321/K9       , VID: V03  , SN: FGL12345678

NAME: "module 0", DESCR: "Cisco 4321 Integrated Services Router front panel"
PID: ISR4321-FP       , VID: V03  , SN: FGL12345679

NAME: "module 1", DESCR: "Cisco 4321 Integrated Services Router PSU"
PID: PWR-4321-AC      , VID: V01  , SN: LIT1234567A

NAME: "module 2", DESCR: "Cisco 4321 Integrated Services Router fan"
PID: FAN-4321         , VID: V01  , SN: LIT1234567B

Each entry shows a hardware component. 'NAME' is the component identifier, 'DESCR' is a description, 'PID' is the product ID (part number), 'VID' is the version ID, and 'SN' is the unique serial number. The chassis entry provides overall device info.

Show inventory with specific module

show inventory | include module 1

NAME: "module 1", DESCR: "Cisco 4321 Integrated Services Router PSU"
PID: PWR-4321-AC      , VID: V01  , SN: LIT1234567A

Using a filter to isolate a specific module. This is useful when you need only the serial number of a particular component, such as a power supply for replacement.

Understanding the Output

The output lists each hardware component in the device, one per block. Each block starts with 'NAME' (logical name), 'DESCR' (description), 'PID' (product ID/part number), 'VID' (version ID), and 'SN' (serial number). The chassis entry is always first. Use this to verify that all expected modules are present and to obtain serial numbers for asset tracking or RMA. A missing module or unexpected PID may indicate hardware failure or unauthorized changes. In a production network, compare output against baseline inventory to detect tampering or failures.

CCNA Exam Tips

CCNA exam may ask which command shows hardware serial numbers; 'show inventory' is the answer.

Remember that 'show inventory' is available in Privileged EXEC mode, not user EXEC.

The PID field is often tested for identifying exact hardware model for IOS compatibility.

Be aware that 'show inventory' output can be filtered with 'include' to find specific modules.

Common Mistakes

Using 'show inventory' in user EXEC mode (it requires Privileged EXEC).

Confusing 'show inventory' with 'show version' which shows software and uptime, not serial numbers.

Assuming all modules have serial numbers; some field-replaceable units may not display SN if not present.

Related Commands

show running-config

Displays the current active configuration in DRAM, showing all non-default settings.

show version

Displays system hardware and software information, including IOS version, uptime, memory, interfaces, and configuration register, used to verify device identity and software compatibility.

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